Franco Embraces His Role as Diplomat in the Dugout

After Carlos Beltran broke his season-opening 0-for-9 slump by hitting a home run against the Washington Nationals on Thursday, he was in no mood to celebrate. But after some coaxing by Manager Willie Randolph and the reserve Julio Franco, Beltran indulged the cheering fans and made a curtain call.

Beltran said yesterday that he was pleased with his decision to ultimately wave to the fans from the dugout steps.

"I'm going to enjoy it, every moment of it," he said of the Mets' season. "Yesterday was only the third game of the season. There's a lot of season left."

The fans have been riding Beltran since opening day, booing him after the outs he made at the plate. Beltran seemed miffed that the fans were so willing to slap a bull's-eye on his back.

After his seventh-inning homer Thursday, Beltran retreated into the dugout. Randolph said yesterday that he encouraged Beltran to make a curtain call. Franco also spoke with Beltran after the hit, putting his left hand on Beltran's right shoulder and giving him the same advice. It was the type of veteran leadership that Randolph said he expected of Franco.

"He's a good teammate all the way around," Randolph said of Franco, who is 47 and playing in his 29th professional season. "Part of being a veteran is maybe to give advice in some way or whatever. But he's here to get hits for us and help us win ballgames."

Franco also served as a peacemaker after Jose Guillen approached Pedro Martínez in the fifth inning after being hit by a pitch for the second time Thursday. Franco walked Guillen to first base and calmed him down by telling him that he understood his frustration.

"Just trying to do good," Franco said of his role as elder statesman.

Beltran eventually took Franco and Randolph's advice, albeit halfheartedly, and waved to the fans.

"Well, I went out," Beltran said. "I just took my time. Like I say, at the beginning, I don't feel like doing it, but I just put myself in the situation of what would God have done in a situation like that. You know, I'm a Christian guy, and after getting booed the first two days, and all of a sudden you come through and get a hit and all of a sudden they want you to go out in a curtain call, I put myself right there and I do believe God would have gone out."

Beltran heard the same boos last season, his first in New York. Huge expectations came with the $119 million deal he signed with the Mets. But he played through injuries last season and hit only .266 with 16 homers and 78 runs batted in.

Beltran said that he knew that playing in New York would be unlike playing anywhere else. He added that he did not regret his decision to sign with the Mets, and that he was happy to be in New York. After a good season, he said, Mets fans would be fully on his side. They seemed to be last night: Beltran received a standing ovation when he went to bat in the first inning.

"I know this is tough," he said of playing in the New York spotlight. "I went through a lot of difficult things last year. What I got to say is, it's early in the year. This has only been the third game in the season."

Then he issued a message to the fans. "They need to relax a little bit and enjoy the game," he said.

MARTíNEZ WON'T APOLOGIZE -- Pedro Martínez said yesterday that he would not apologize for plunking Jose Guillen twice during Thursday's game against the Nationals, saying that the errant pitches were not intentional.

"No need for me to do that," Martínez said when asked if he would reach out to Guillen. "No need for anybody to do that. Nothing happened. So I'm just going to go about my business and keep my cool."